Farewell to Marvin R. Shanken, editor and publisher of the U.S. magazine “Wine Spectator”

Marvin R. Shanken, the longtime editor-in-chief and publisher of “Wine Spectator”, has passed away at the age of 83. He was the one who turned the U.S. magazine into one of the industry’s leading international publications, helping millions of Americans discover the pleasures and virtues of wine and encouraging producers to always offer the very best. Shanken, who led “Wine Spectator” for over 50 years, had taken it over back in 1979, when it was a struggling publication distributed for free at wine shops; under his leadership, the magazine, which reported the news of his death, grew into a glossy publication considered an essential reference by over 3 million wine enthusiasts worldwide. Shanken exerted a decisive influence on the world of wine, as well as on the spirits, beer, cigar, and restaurant industries, shaping the growing presence of wine in the daily lives of Americans and transforming it from a niche product into the ideal accompaniment to a good meal. “We have lost a visionary entrepreneur, the founder of a publishing enterprise that, long before it was widely recognized, became truly significant in the world of wine journalism. He was able to celebrate the value of the pleasure of food and wine, including not only wine and food but also cigars and more”, recalls Alessandro Regoli, editor-in-chief of WineNews.